Zen Do: The New Mindful Hen Do Trend

The stereotype around hen parties, with willy straws and excessive amounts of alcohol, doesn’t appeal to everyone equally. 

For many, this is the chance to have the perfect getaway, to clear the mind of the stress of the wedding and to be with the people you care about. Whether it’s yoga or eating healthily, you shouldn’t feel obliged to follow the ‘status quo’ of hen weekends, therefore we have highlighted some ideas for inspiration on planning your ultimate zen do.

This advice is from our team of hen party planners, who have arranged thousands of these with a calmer angle.

What Is A Zen Do?

A zen do is a hen do with a wellness or calm focus. This will impact which activities are arranged, the type of accommodation and the food & drinks chosen.

The main idea behind it is that you don’t return from your hen weekend feeling sick and exhausted, but instead you feel recharged and zen.

It should be highlighted that a zen do is flexible, you can still have cocktails or prosecco, but you might just want to incorporate certain aspects into your plans, e.g. arranging a yoga class or a craft workshop during the day before drinks later on.

Why Zen Parties Are Trending?

We live in a continuously stressful environment, with the constant bombardment of ads and social media signals. Combine this with the stress of planning a wedding and you may be feeling complete burnout.

So this is a chance to have a relaxing holiday with your nearest and dearest. The idea has been trending increasingly over the past 12 months as people are after something nice and relaxing.

We’ve also seen the sober movement grow, which has an impact on how people plan their hen do. 

The cost of your weekend could be a factor in this trending so much, as a spa day or a relaxing few activities can work out a lot cheaper than raiding Ibiza nightclubs all weekend.

The wellness industry has brought a lot of us together, with group activities like breathing workshops and yoga classes, or even the craft workshops that can feel incredibly rewarding.

The Best Zen Do Activities

I can’t start writing about the best activities without straight away focusing on spa weekends. It could be a day pass at a spa, a massage, a facial or a single treatment, or it might be a full on stay at a spa resort. 

There are also some thermal baths abroad, such as in Budapest, which can offer the holiday break you’re after with a relaxed focus.

If you’re looking more domestically, an afternoon tea is a nice way to bring everyone together, help to break the ice and enjoy some tasty food. Of course, this doesn’t tick the box for those being health-conscious, but it’s your hen do, why not enjoy some scones and cream.

Venues offering afternoon tea are also becoming a lot more accessible for everyone, offering vegan and vegetarian options, gluten free, alcohol or non-alcohol options, so you can choose one based on your personal needs.

The symbol of wellbeing in modern times is yoga and we did see a brief period a few years back where people requested yoga classes for their hen weekend. You could also try a pilates class, meditation, sound baths or a barre stretch. These will often take place in a private room for your group, so you don’t have to worry about feeling self-conscious.

A cooking class is a great way to learn a new skill, while you can opt for a class around your favourite food, whether that’s Indian, Tapas or even a seasonal one. Some classes will even involve foraging for ingredients beforehand, which adds a natural aspect to the experience.

For some, a craft workshop brings them peace and tranquility, allowing them to focus their efforts on making something and being able to take it home at the end of the experience. It could be flower crown making, pottery or jewellery. But if you fancy a craft workshop with a twist, then you might want to check out dickorate, which…well…The name says it all.

Zen Do Destinations (UK & Abroad)

When speaking to customers looking for a calmer hen do, the most popular destinations have been in the West Country, such as a Bristol hen do, Bath, Cornwall and Devon.

You have a beautiful setting, with rolling hills and great outdoor venues in Bristol and Bath. Bath is also the home to the roman bath scene in the UK, as well as having many swanky spas.

Edinburgh might not have the same warm climate, but we have had many groups book this destination for a zen style do. 

You have Arthur’s Seat (the hill) overlooking the castle and city, while you also have a number of spa facilities. There are some amazing restaurants and cafes, while the cobbled streets are just beautiful. But our favourite activity here is the chocolate making workshop, at a city centre venue, involving milk, white and dark chocolate.

If you’re looking to go abroad but don’t want to end up in a stag and hen stereotypical destination, Lisbon is a great option. You could go on a Portuguese food tour, taking you around to a number of independent restaurants where they will provide you with their local cuisines. There are spa facilities available where you can enjoy the swimming pool and sauna, as well as a Turkish Hammam (those indoor bathhouses). You could then follow this up with a relaxing catamaran cruise, followed by a rooftop dinner. Day 2 could be spent paddleboarding or kayaking, followed by maybe an escape room, there are so many great options.

Food & Drink Ideas For A Zen Do

This is often the most forgotten about aspect of planning a hen party. But if you fail to plan where you’re going to eat or drink, this can cause issues if tables aren’t available, especially if you’re in a big group.

A brunch (we’re not talking about bottomless brunch) can be a really nice setting, enjoying some avocado on toast or an eggs Benedict, while sat in a beautiful hotel or cafe. These venues also tend to offer afternoon tea, which is nice if you’re after something a bit classy.

If you’re opting for a hen house over a hotel, then you might want to arrange sharing platters. These can be organised with culinary companies, or you could just order in a big supermarket order. If you’re heading out, we work with a number of venues that also offer sharing platters, meaning people can pick their food like a giant tapas order.

If you’re opting for a zen do, then health might be a key aspect. If so, you might want to try some plant based restaurants, or healthy bowls like a poke bowl (the Hawaiian dish involving raw fish, rice and vegetables).

If you’re heading to an evening venue, but you want to avoid alcohol, speak to us beforehand as many also offer mocktails, which means you can feel like you’re properly involved rather than being stuck with fizzy or water.

If you do decide to opt for a cooking class, this works at combining a fun activity with eating, such as a pizza making class.

Planning Your Zen Do With Us

We can help you with a completely tailored package based on what you’re after, whether that’s a wellness activities, great restaurants or a luxurious accommodation. We have a team of event planners available to speak on the phone, WhatsApp or by email.

Start to look through our destination pages, or head to the hen do ideas page for inspiration.

We have a number of flexible payment options, so everyone can pay separately, they can do monthly payment installments and you only have to pay a £1 deposit to secure your hen do!

Your dedicated planner will be with you every step of the way, so even once you’re out there, we will have someone ready at the phone in case you have any questions. Many of the activities will also involve some form of guide or representative.

We take away the stress of planning, as well as handling a bill split, which is the biggest headache of the whole process. So reach out and let us know if we can help.